Apparatus and process for article filling under reduced pressure

ABSTRACT

The disclosure teaches a novel process for adding liquid or fluid to an absorbent article, such as an ink reservoir for marking devices such as marking pencils, and apparatus particularly adapted for carrying out the process. In accordance with the inventive process, the article is placed in a container which communicates with a source of the liquid or fluid at one place in the container, and with a source of reduced pressure at another place in the container. While the liquid or fluid is being provided to the container, the pressure in the container is reduced through the action of the source of reduced pressure to assist in drawing the liquid or fluid into the container by a sucking action. As the liquid or fluid is drawn into the container, it is added to the article contained therein. The apparatus consists of the container which comprises airtight means for communicating with a source of reduced pressure and further airtight means for communicating with a source of the liquid or fluid.

United States Patent 1191 Klein [4 1 Feb. 4, 1975 [75] Inventor: Edward I. Klein, Montreal, Quebec,

Canada [73] Assignee: V-Mark Automation Ltd., Montreal,

Quebec, Canada [22] Filed: Oct. 16, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 297,935

[52] US. Cl. l4l/20.5 [51] Int. Cl B43k 11/02 [58] Field of Search 141/18, 20.5, 21, 24,25, 141/26, 27, 8, 67; 222/205, 206, 209; 73/421 B, 425.6

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,545,900 3/1951 Squires 73/4256 X 2,689,530 9/1954 Harvey 222/214 X 2,743,048 4/1956 Leck et al.. 141/8 3,020,685 2/1962 Kurek 141/20 X 3,126,874 3/1964 Exner l41/20.5 3,263,554 8/1966 Pickles... 73/425 6 3,620,264 11/1971 Klein l4l/20.5 X 3,681,030 8/1972 Natelson 73/4256 X [ONT/70L IVE/1N5 7'0 SJUFPCE 0F REDUCED PRESSURE Primary Examinerl-larry N. Haroian AssistantExaminerCharles E. Phillips Attorney, Agent, or FirmAlan Swabey; Robert F. Mitchell [57] ABSTRACT The disclosure teaches a novel process for adding liquid or fluid to an absorbent article, suchas an ink reservoir for marking devices such as marking pencils, and apparatus particularly adapted for carrying out the process. In accordance with the inventive process, the article is placed in a container which communicates with a source of the liquid or fluid at one place in the container, and with a source of reduced pressure at another place in the container. While the liquid or fluid is being provided to the container, the pressure in the container is reduced through the action of the source of reduced pressure to assist in drawing the liquid or fluid into the container by a sucking action. As the liquid or fluid is drawn into the container, it is added to the article contained therein. The apparatus consists of the container which comprises airtight means for communicating with a source of reduced pressure and further airtight means for communicating with a source of the liquid or fluid.

2 Claims, 1 Drawing Figure APPARATUS AND PROCESS FOR ARTICLE FILLING UNDER REDUCED PRESSURE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION l. Field of the Invention This invention relates to a novel process for adding fluid or liquid to an absorbent article, and to apparatus for carrying out the process. More specifically, this invention relates to a novel process for adding fluid or liquid to an absorbent article wherein the fluid is added to the article under reduced pressure, and to apparatus for carrying out the process.

Although not restricted thereto, the process and apparatus are particularly adaptable to filling an absorbent filler with ink, the absorbent filler being employed as a cartridge or reservoir in a marking device.

2. Description of the Prior Art Reservoirs for marking devices must be filled to a certain percentage of their total capacity usually 85 percent. This is a requirement set forth by the customer who, if he is a government agency or other large organization, will make measurements on samples of reservoirs to determine whether these specifications are met, and who, if he is a single consumer, will not be willing to buy further similar such devices if they dry up too quickly. Thus, failure to provide the specified percentage of capacity may result in cancellation or loss of sales.

Overfilling the reservoir provides equally undesirable performance in that an overfilled reservoir in such a device will cause it to leak.

In accordance with applicants knowledge, it is the present practice to fill such reservoirs with ink by dipping them in a container of ink either until all of the ink has been absorbed, or for a predetermined amount of time. This method is not accurate enough to meet all requirements. In addition, the speed of operation in accordance with this method is severely limited, and this method is, therefore, undesirable from a production point of view.

In accordance with another method, the reservoir is placed in an elongated container, and a carefully metered amount of ink is squirted onto the reservoir through an elongated opening along the length of the container and at the top thereof. This method also requires that the ink be absorbed by the reservoir, and is accordingly too slow to be used with large size reservoirs. In addition, when the reservoirs are encased in a plastic or other type material, this method is not usable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the invention, a process for adding liquid or fluid to an absorbent article, and an apparatus for carrying out the process, are provided whereby the amount of fluid or liquid added to the absorbent filler can be accurately controlled.

In addition, in accordance with the process of the invention, it is possible to add the liquid or fluid to the absorbent article at a faster rate than is possible using the above-described, presently known processes.

According to the invention, a process for adding liquid or fluid to an absorbent article, said article being located in an airtight container, said container comprising first means for airtightedly communicating witha source of reduced pressure, said container further comprising second means for airtightedly communicating with a source of said liquid or fluid, comprises activating said source of reduced pressure to thereby reduce the pressure in said container, and activating said source of liquid of fluid to provide liquid or fluid to said container whereby said fluid or liquid is added to said article, said reduced pressure in said container aiding in drawing said liquid or fluid into said container by a sucking action.

The liquid or fluid may be provided under pressure.

Apparatus for carrying out the process comprises container means having an interior portion for receiving'said'article, means for supplying said liquid or fluid to said interior portion, and means for reducing pressure in said interior portion whereby, when the pressure in said interior portion is reduced by said means for reducing pressure, the reduced pressure will aid in drawing said liquid into said interior portion.

The means for reducing pressure in the means for supplying the liquid or fluid are preferably in airtight engagement with' the container means.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The drawing illustrates in schematic form, a section of a preferred embodiment of the inventive apparatus adapted to carry out the process of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawing, 1 is an absorbent article to which a fluid or liquid is to be added. As mentioned above, this could comprise a reservoir for a marking device, in which case ink would be added to the reservoir. The article is placed in a container 2 which comprises a removable closure cap 3 and a removable plug 4. The cap and plug are adapted to be placed in airtight engagement with the container. While the cap and plug are shown at the ends of the container, it will, of course, be understood that other locations for these closure means are possible. Thus, one of the closure means could be located in a side wall of the container. Further, the plug could be an integral, non-removable part of the container. In addition, the cap and plug could be interchanged, or two caps or two plugs could be used. It is only necessary that closure means, which are adapted to provide a communications path between the inside and the outside of the container, be provided.

The container interior can be cylindrical or cubical or any other shape adapted to the shape and form of the article.

The cap 3 is adapted to receive a hollow, pipelike means 5 which establishes a communications path between the outside and the inside of the container at this end. As shown in the drawing, this means comprises a hollow needle which penetrates the article 1. It will, of course, be clear that it is not necessary for the means 5 to penetrate the article I in carrying out the invention. The means 5 is connected, at its end outside the container, to a source of liquid or fluid (not shown in the drawing).

The plug 4 has a hole 9 therethrough whereby to establish communication between the inside and the outside of the container through the plug. A tube 6 is attached to the plug adjacent to and surrounding the hole 9 to provide an airtight path from the inside of the container, through the hole 9, to the interior of the tube 6. The tube 6 comprises two spaced-apart clarnp valves 7 and 8, the function of which will be explained below.

The end of the tube, opposite that end adjacent to the plug, is connected to a source of reduced pressure (not shown in the drawing). As will be obvious, the tube 6 can be rigid or flexible.

The container 2 may further comprise a switch means 11 which is adapted to be engaged by switch engaging means l2 on cap 3. The switch ll comprises the ON-OFF switch for the sequence control means as illustrated by the connection therebetween.

In operation, the steps of the process are as follows:

The cap is removed from the container, to which the plug and tube are already attached, and the article is inserted in the container. The removable cap, containing the means 5, is then placed in airtight engagement in the container as shown in the drawing.

To create a zone of reduced pressure between clamp valves 7 and 8, the valve 7 is closed and the source of reduced pressure is activated. The clamp valve 8 is then closed, so that both valves are closed, and the zone between the valves is a zone of reduced pressure.

When the article is ready to receive the liquid or fluid, the liquid or fluid is supplied, under pressure, through the means 5. The valve 7 is opened thereby communicating the reduced pressure to the container so that a reduced pressure is created in the container to assist in drawing the liquid or fluid through the article l by a sucking action. The extent to which pressure is reduced in the container can be controlled by varying the spacing between the valves for a given tube diameter.

As can be seen, when the liquid or fluid is drawn into the container, it will be added to the article as required. The amount of liquid or fluid added to the article can be controlled either by controlling the amount of liquid or fluid provided in each cycle, or by controlling the extent to which the pressure in the container is reduced, or by both above.

In order to avoid having a vacuum drawing in the container between cycles, one of the valves must be closed at the end of the cycle. In order to provide maximum operating speed, it is contemplated to close the valve 7 at the end of a cycle and to simultaneously open valve 8. Other means could be used to shut off the vacuum. However, with the above procedure, the step of creating a zone of reduced pressure between valves 7 and 8 can be accomplished in the time that it takes to remove a filled article and replace it with a fresh one.

To this end, the sequence in which the valves are opened and closed, is controlled by automatic sequence control means 10. This can comprise an electronic or mechanical means as well known in the art.

When switch means 11 is used with the above method, when the switch engaging means engages the switch 11 to turn it on, valve 8 closes. After the valve 8 has closed, valve 7 opens to communicate the vacuum to the container. When the cap 3 is removed, the switch 11 opens and causes valve 7 to close and valve 8 to open simultaneously.

It can be seen that with the above described method, the speed of operation relative to present methods wherein a dipped article absorbs the liquid or fluid, is greatly increased. In addition, the speed of operation and the amount of liquid or fluid added to the article can be controlled by varying the extent to which pressure is reduced in the container. In the instant embodiment, accurate and precise control is obtainable by 4 varying the spacing between the valves, or by varying the diameter of the tubes, or both.

It will, of course, be appreciated that other means could be used to provide this control. Thus, the source of reduced pressure may itself be adjustable. The described structure is merely one preferred embodiment for carrying out the function of providing a reduced pressure in the container, and other structures may be used in carrying out the invention.

It is, of course, not necessary to provide the fluid or liquid under pressure as the vacuum can be made large enough to suck in the liquid or fluid. Thus, it would be possible to provide a container which would receive a carefully measured quantity of ink in each cycle from a source not shown. The means 5 would communicate with the container as shown in dotted lines in the drawing. When the valve 7 opens, the ink would be drawn into the container because of the vacuum created therein.

While a preferred embodiment has been described above, it is to be understood that this was for the purpose of illustrating, but not limiting, the invention. Various modifications, which will come readily to the mind of one skilled in the art, will fall within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A method for adding a controlled amount of liquid or fluid to an absorbent article in an air tight container;

said container comprising first means being in airtight communication with a source of reduced pressure;

said container further comprising second means adapted to be placed in airtight communication provided under pressure;

wherein said first means comprises:

plug means in airtight engagement with said container at one end thereof, said plug means comprising an opening providing a communications path to said interior portion;

a flexible tube being in airtight connection with said plug adjacent to and surrounding said opening at said one end of said tube;

the other end of said tube being connected to said source of reduced pressure; and two spaced-apart clamp valves on said tube between said plug and said source of reduced pressure, comprising a first clamp close to said plug and a second clamp close to said source of reduced pressure;

said method including the steps of activating said first clamp valve to close while said second valve remains open;

activating said source of reduced pressure to provide a zone of reduced pressure in said tube between said first valve and said source of reduced pressure;

activating said second valve to close thereby providing a zone of reduced pressure between said two valves;

activating said first valve to open;

whereby the reduced pressure in said zone between the two valves is communicated to the interior portion of said container to thereby reduce the pressure in said interior portion to draw said controlled amount of liquid or fluid into said container by a sucking action, said controlled amount of said fluid or liquid being absorbed by said absorbent article while said absorbent article is in said container.

2. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the sequence of operation of the valves is controlled by automatic sequence control means. 

1. A method for adding a controlled amount of liquid or fluid to an absorbent article in an air tight container; said container comprising first means being in airtight communication with a source of reduced pressure; said container further comprising second means adapted to be placed in airtight communication provided under pressure; wherein said first means comprises: plug means in airtight engagement with said container at one end thereof, said plug means comprising an opening providing a communications path to said interior portion; a flexible tube being in airtight connection with said plug adjacent to and surrounding said opening at said one end of said tube; the other end of said tube being connected to said source of reduced pressure; and two spaced-apart clamp valves on said tube between said plug and said source of reduced pressure, comprising a first clamp close to said plug and a second clamp close to said source of reduced pressure; said method including the steps of activating said first clamp valve to close while said second valve remains open; activating said source of reduced pressure to provide a zone of reduced pressure in said tube between said first valve and said source of reduced pressure; activating said second valve to close thereby providing a zone of reduced pressure between said two valves; activating said first valve to open; whereby the reduced pressure in said zone between the two valves is communicated to the interior portion of said container to thereby reduce the pressure in said interior portion to draw said controlled amount of liquid or fluid into said container by a sucking action, said controlled amount of said fluid or liquid being absorbed by said absorbent article while said absorbent article is in said container.
 2. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the sequence of operation of the valves is controlled by automatic sequence control means. 